They do need to keep it a 7/8ths instead of this BS about not wanting to buy an extra 20 acres....REALLY? I cant imagine the per acre cost in SE Ohio is overly taxing....stay on them Ohio guys....make them build a 2 turn track. It will be better for everyone.

They do need to keep it a 7/8ths instead of this BS about not wanting to buy an extra 20 acres....REALLY? I cant imagine the per acre cost in SE Ohio is overly taxing....stay on them Ohio guys....make them build a 2 turn track. It will be better for everyone.

7/8ths tracks are terrible racinglebanon was a 1/2 i do believe and they were going to make it a 5/8ths which imo is much better racing than a 7/8ths track

The ground available in that area, not much there --- and lets face it people horse racing is there for one reason, to provide slots..... Take the money and run and be greatful that they are going to be the 2nd track in Ohio up and racing.

Grandstand small --- they have a concern over the grandstand being small ?

No Barn Area --- thats what alot of racinos have now and in the future. Lebanon fairgrounds will be the training center with a 7 minute truck ride.

The purpose of the VLT enhancement (at least from the point of view of both the Oh-RC and the Ohio horsemen) is to grow the industry, rather than shrink it.

Unfortunately (as in all other VLT states or provinces) this objective was not written into the law as a requirement of operation.

That is and has been the bad-side to VLT enhancement.

Unless a loophole exists in the existing contract between Oh-RC and Churchill Downs Inc./Delaware North Companies, than the OH-RC and the Horseman's Association are at the mercy of Churchill Downs Inc./ Delaware North Companies in this regard.

It was my understanding that Churchill Downs Inc./Delaware North Companies paid their goodwill-money and this was a GO?

Niatross...while I certainly respect your opinion on 5/8th's racing, the betting public has made its preference VERY well known that they prefer a 2 turn track. I am of the opinion that a 5/8th's is actually WORSE than the half,(and I despeise half mile racing) because of he very nature of how the third quarters are raced giving very few horses a chance to stay close enough for a short stretch. But hey, we're all allowed to think what we will.

Niatross...while I certainly respect your opinion on 5/8th's racing, the betting public has made its preference VERY well known that they prefer a 2 turn track. I am of the opinion that a 5/8th's is actually WORSE than the half,(and I despeise half mile racing) because of he very nature of how the third quarters are raced giving very few horses a chance to stay close enough for a short stretch. But hey, we're all allowed to think what we will.

would take a 5/8ths over a half every day of the week.....

In regards to the grandstand growin the busines.... I am sure whatever they do wind up building will be 5X more than what they would need on an average Saturday night.

Familiar with that area ( there is a huge outdoor outlet mall that my wife has drug me too a few times ) on one side of the track and on the other side is a state prison..... Too put up a $200 million casino, racetrack, grandstand, detention barn, and parking will be tight.

Hoping for the best, but again I have no idea where they plan on getting their crowd to support such a big facility.

But hope for the best ---- on a side note, River Downs is trying to get rid of the summer meet dates since they will not have a grandstand as construction continues. Word from workers at River is that they want to move their meet days to Beulah Park...... I couldn't imagine Scioto would allow for that to happen.

Niatross...while I certainly respect your opinion on 5/8th's racing, the betting public has made its preference VERY well known that they prefer a 2 turn track. I am of the opinion that a 5/8th's is actually WORSE than the half,(and I despeise half mile racing) because of he very nature of how the third quarters are raced giving very few horses a chance to stay close enough for a short stretch. But hey, we're all allowed to think what we will.

Mel, I don't think the issue- for the gambler- is necessarily the two turns. Yes, we prefer to bet a good mile track like The Big M. Springfield is a great track. So is the Red Mile. But a 7/8 layout is just horrible. Everyone leaves a million miles per hour. They all sit through the next half-mile and then brush home. It's bad racing and definitely not as good as a decent 5/8 where every horse has a chance.

Don't get delusional . You need no more proof than what you have in front of you to understand exactly what the people with the power think of harness racing. Slots are a double edged sword, at best.

Thank u homeboy Hanover ! Exactly They are so delusional to actually think they even have a say as to how big the oval should be and how many stalls?Gee with all this big money all the stallions coming to Ohio u would think the contract investors would be working on a state of the art facility like Kyoto Japan?But they are not they are putting in a very limited style race track!Just to throw Ohio racing a chicken.

You need to start watching Amish Mafia Burton...One of the finest shows on cable. Then tou would know who Lebanon Levi is.

Yes it's a great show .A friend of mine out here has experienced their thuggish behavior befor this show ever ce out .Pretty damn sad when a group of thugs infiltrate religious principals for their own greed.Burton Levi represents thugs and unfortunately seems to be a lot of that in the industry.Just common criminals.

Don't get me wrong, we all have our own choices and opinions....but the fact remains, people choices revolve around the "appearrance" of their horse having a chnce to get out in the stretch and have a chance. A 7/8ths may have slower middle halves, but at least its still possible in a longer stretch to make up ground. Again, Im simply making my opinion and pointing out that harness handles are better on 2 turn tracks.

Don't get me wrong, we all have our own choices and opinions....but the fact remains, people choices revolve around the "appearrance" of their horse having a chnce to get out in the stretch and have a chance. A 7/8ths may have slower middle halves, but at least its still possible in a longer stretch to make up ground. Again, Im simply making my opinion and pointing out that harness handles are better on 2 turn tracks.

I know you've raced enough at Woodbine to know how tough it is flipping three deep on that last turn unless the front is totally falling apart.

Not all 7/8s are created equal, some are better than others, but I have to say that's the worst layout for a track that I've seen. I've never been thrilled with the twice arounds, but there's a lot of tradition there.

The old Sportsman's 5/8 was an ideal set-up. They came past the grandstand twice and a good closer could win in that long stretch or a tough horse could go to the top and stay there. They ruined it for thoroughbreds and then ruined that for racecars. It's a damn shame.

i will grant you the old Sportsman's had the longest stretch of ANY 5/8ths anywhere, which, as you pointed out, created much more fair racing. I believe the stretch back then was 900 ft. Thats actually longer than Springfields.